Submissions needed: NPWS Camping Proposal
13th May 2025
The issue:
NPWS have proposed a model that aligns camping fees to amenities provided and proposed rates that will be low and peak seasons for all NPWS campsites across NSW. You can read the consultation document and provide feedback via the link "Improving Camping in NSW national parks"
Background:
NPWS has examined camping fees as they have changed little since 2017. The NPWS says the proposed changes include:
- the introduction of consistent state-wide camping fees
- simplified bookings to deliver fairer camping experiences for national park visitors
- improved management of persistent campground issues such as people booking space and not cancelling or turning up.
- a site based booking rather than person based booking system
- nominating 13 weeks a year as peak season and substantially increasing fees during this time
Whilst we are not opposed to a slight increase in camping fees and indexation to the consumer price index (CPI) going forward, we reject or oppose most of the other proposals for reasons outlined below and developed in our formal submission.
We support initiatives that will reduce ghost bookings but believe there are alternatives to major price increases as the means to achieve this. An improved refund policy will go some way towards prompting cancellations as would continuing the recent practice of notification of upcoming bookings.
The major issues we have with the plan include:
- the premise that a standardised statewide model is appropriate. Rural and regional visitation patterns are very different to coastal holiday surges.
- the proposal is discriminatory towards small camping groups such as couples, single child families or solo travellers. The shift to a per site charge increases cost for these groups substantially
- the premise that higher amenity campsites should be provided in national parks
- the unintended consequence of out of campsite camping to avoid high camping fees
- proposed peak season of 13 weeks a year making school holidays expensive.
The document provides case studies that we feel are misleading and disingenuous suggesting many scenarios will result in lower fees. We have provided examples below of how climbers will be impacted in the majority of cases and a graph and a table showing the proposed new prices to camp.
Case studies:
Kaputar NP Dawson’s Springs (Tier 6)
A climbing couple spends two weeks a year at Kaputar NP. The only 2 campgrounds in the park are likely to be considered Tier 6 due to the presence of long standing hot showers. Apart from 4 days at Easter the park's campgrounds are seldom at capacity. At present a 7 night stay at Easter or in December costs $114.80.
Under the new system it would cost $378.00 to stay for a week in December, a 338% increase and a one week stay around Easter would cost them $623.00, a 546% increase.
A week visit will often lead to an off-park spend of well over $500 in the local economy through meals, out of park accommodation en route, grocery and other shopping, fuel purchases, gas refills and use of services.
Warrumbungles NP Camp Blackman (Tier 6)
A couple and their 10 year old son spend a week camping in the Warrumbungles National Park during school holidays and visit Coonabarabran and other nearby tourist attractions. At present they spend $123 for 4 nights accommodation in an unpowered site. Under the new system the same site would cost $356 at peak season, a 289% increase.
Bungonia NP (Tier 6)
A couple and their child wish to spend 4 nights at Bungonia with their brother, his partner and their 2 children. They are unable to book a single site due to the maximum of 6 people per site. At present if they booked 2 adjacent sites it would cost $188.60. If they were trying to make the same booking at Easter under the new system it would likely cost $712, an increase of 378%. If they book outside of peak time the cost would be $432, an increase of 229%
Kwiambal NP Lemon tree Flat (Tier 4)
Four friends who enjoy bouldering together wish to stay in Kwiambal National Park for 3 nights. This presently costs $73.80. Under the new system this would cost $84 in low season, a 13% increase or in peak season, $162, a 220% increase. Two other friends ask to join but this requires booking a second campsite and for the two latecomers the cost currently would be $36.90 but under the new system would be $84, a 228% increase or in peak season $162, a 439% increase.
Arakoon SCA Trial Bay Gaol (Tier 6)
Two climbers wish to stay at Arakoon and use an unpowered site. At present an overnight stay costs $34.85. The new price of $89 in peak season is a 225% increase. A low season price is still $54, a 15% increase.
Watagans NP Bangalow campground (Tier 4)
Two climbers wish to stay at this campground to climb at Monkeyface crag. At present the cost is a $6 booking fee although the campground will be considered Tier 4 with BBQs, a shelter, fireplaces and toilets. In the new system it would be $28/night low season or $54/ night high season a 900% increase.
We believe camping should be accessible to all. If you do the online survey please consider the following points (under survey headings):
- Aligning campsites with fees and facilities: this fails to account for the sensible reasons for the existing disparity including regional differences - alignment and uniformity is not appropriate.
- Low season and high season fees: these occur already in many parks where they are needed and may be appropriate in some coastal parks for a limited time in summer. Nevertheless, they should not be excessive and should not penalise smaller camping groups.
- Removal of booking fees: assuming booking fees will still be included, just absorbed into the price of the campsite, making the arrangement the NPWS has with the booking company RezExpert even more opaque. The arrangement the NPWS has with Rezexpert and the distribution of booking fees has not been made clear. Putting aside the problem many people have with the need to book at all outside of popular periods in popular parks, if booking fees remain the same and the booking company receives a fixed percentage of 2.5%, increasing the prices will result in a windfall for this private company. Booking fees are not capped at present and if they remain they should be capped. In addition the $6 fee to book a basic “free” campsite with no facilities seems excessive, given the 2.5% booking component of many other campsites is less than $2. However many other campsites with toilets and picnic tables currently fall into this category (only a $6 booking fee required) and it is presumed these sites will not remain “free”, with many being reclassified between Tier 2-4 as most have a toilet as a minimum. We do support a reduction of the booking fee for bookable free sites.
- Fees per campsite: as outlined above this is highly discriminatory against small groups, who by their smaller numbers use fewer resources. Due to supply and demand many groups of friends often arrange to share a campsite at peak times anyway. It is also noted that at present a campsite can be booked for 6 adults, however this seems like it will be limited to a maximum of 4 adults with the new system. It is unlikely there will be many “discounted” smaller sites available for couples as suggested in the proposal. The ability to only have one vehicle per campsite also dissuades friends from sharing a campsite especially given the trend towards roof top tents and van camping.
- Pricing levels: as demonstrated, the pricing examples provided in the proposal underestimate the massive cost increases seen in many real life scenarios. Perhaps $89/ night is appropriate for beach side locations with full amenities over the six week Christmas holiday period, but everywhere else this is egregious. Standardisation of pricing across NSW is not necessary or desirable and existing price structures have evolved for good reason. The prices could undergo modest increases and then be should be indexed to the CPI.
- Increased refunds for cancellation: we support increasing refunds to 80%, and making this process easy up to a few days before the booked date as it will likely reduce the ghost booking problem. An SMS reminder just prior to this time may also help with this issue.
A parliamentary petition is also available to sign for NSW residents that closes on 21/8/25
Website:
For more information download this document
